Seed Health, a microbial sciences company, is partnering with Atmo Biosciences to use its ingestible gas-sensing capsule to study the impact of probiotics on the gut microbiome.

Seed Health will leverage Atmo’s innovative gas-sensing capsule technology in clinical trials to profile key gases produced within the gut in real-time – the first of which will evaluate the impact of probiotics on the gut microbiome after antibiotic use.

Seed Heath co-founder and co-CEO Raja Dhir said: “Despite over a decade of human microbiome research, we are still limited by the technologies available to measure and understand real-time activity in the human gut.”

“We are inspired by this collaboration with Atmo Biosciences as we pioneer new biomarkers and methods to measure the impact of specific probiotics, while deepening our functional understanding of the gut microbiome. The ability to monitor this environment has tremendous implications for the future of the field.”

The lower gut is challenging to reach physically, making it difficult to study clinically. To date, gut microbiome research – and studies on the efficacy of interventions like probiotics – has relied mostly on stool analysis, which is more reflective of the gut lumen microbiome, specifically in the colon. Other than an invasive tube insertion, the only way to test for these gases is by breath measurements, which are often inaccurate as gas concentrations in the gut are 5,000-10,000 times higher than the breath. Other diagnostic methods such as aspiration, biopsy, endoscopy, motility pills, and imaging pills, are also often highly invasive, costly or have other clinical limitations.

The Atmo Gas Capsule, recently released for research use, is the first ingestible sensor technology to track location-specific gases through the human gastrointestinal tract. The 28mm capsule uses sensors to measure key gases present, including hydrogen and oxygen, and is up to 3,000 times more accurate than breath tests. Development is underway to include additional biomarkers such as methane, hydrogen sulfide and short-chain fatty acids, an additional cluster of biomarkers key to understanding gut microbiota function.

Collectively, these new biomarkers empower researchers to gain objective, real-time insight into patient gut health for diagnosis, treatment and how interventions like antibiotics, probiotics, and food, may impact gut function.

Seed®, the consumer health division of Seed Health, will use the Atmo Gas Capsule in a series of upcoming clinical studies on their flagship probiotic, the Daily Synbiotic. The first study will build on previous metagenomic studies and measure both the effects of antibiotics on the entire GI tract, and how the use of specific strains of probiotic bacteria may impart functional benefits to the GI system during and after antibiotic therapy.

Dr. Gregor Reid, Distinguished Professor at Western University and Lawson Institute Chair of Human Microbiology and Probiotics, and Chief Scientist of Seed said: “While antibiotics are a key frontline tool to treat and eliminate infections, they’re also known to negatively impact the function and diversity of the gut microbiome as reflected in the variety of side effects they cause.”

“As a research and clinical tool, this device will contribute greatly to learning how interventions, including probiotics, alter the gut microbiome’s activity and metabolic readouts.”

Patients enrolled in this first study will swallow an Atmo Gas Capsule for continuous monitoring, detection and measurement of key gases and volatile compounds. Additionally, the study will collect urine, vaginal swabs, fecal and blood samples at multiple unique time points. Recruitment for this study is scheduled to begin in December with the trial commencing in early 2020.

Atmo Biosciences CEO Mal Hebblewhite said: “Working with Seed Health, we can now expand the potential of our technology to understand and measure the real-time impact of interventions like probiotics under different conditions.”

“Our technology unlocks new datasets and novel biomarkers that could not only impact the millions who currently suffer from GI disorders and food intolerances, but also could offer an entirely new dimension of research to evaluate interventions and preventive measures, which could impact millions more.”